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North West Health MEC lays into Nehawu strikers, blaming them for increased deaths

Details

Monday, 16 April 2018 12:35

Sowetan reports that North West Health MEC Magome Masike has blamed the increasing number of deaths of patients and defaults on treatment on the ongoing strike in the province by members of the National Health Education and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu).

The MEC was referring to the number of deaths of patients that have been reported to him since the beginning of the strike in February and the effect on the storage and distribution of medication. He said the striking workers were punishing their fellow black people “for bonuses [the striking workers want] without assessments,” which he was totally against. The state of affairs in the health department has been unsettled since its head of department, Thabo Lekalakala, admitted he had paid Gupta-linked company Mediosa R30-million for one mobile clinic. Health workers, including nurses, showed their exasperation and complained about poor working conditions and lack of equipment. The workers are demanding a 5% increase across the board and have since prevented staff members from reporting to work.

Read this report by Boitumelo Tshehle in full on page 3 of Sowetan of 16 April 2018

See too, Lack of nurses forces patients to queue from 3am, on page 3 of Sowetan of 16 April 2018